Good morning, Bengaluru!
☁️ Today’s weather: High: 27 ℃ | Low: 20 ℃ | Mostly cloudy skies for the day.
🧐 Did you know? Bangalore was the capital of the Mysore State after Independence and remained till the state of Karnataka was formed in 1956.
🎶 Airport anthem
Musician Ricky Kej shares insights into creating the official anthem of the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA).
What’s it about? Kej composed the official anthem for the airport as a fusion of modernity and the state’s rich heritage. The English-Kannada track was inspired by Kej’s time spent in the airport as part of his travels.
- Kej collaborated with Lonnie Park on the track. Lonnie visited the airport to take in its unique features, the art, and the overall look. The song was recorded in New York by Lonnie.
- According to Kej, Lonnie brought the soulful energy needed to sing the anthem while he provided the cultural influences.
What it means? Kej says the anthem is a reminder of the city’s potential and how the KIA serves as a testament to the city’s growth and connections to the world. He also wants the anthem to be a symbol of the city.
⌚ Extended deadline responses
The state government’s extension for bars and restaurants to stay open longer has been welcomed and criticised.
What’s it about? The Karnataka government decided to extend the deadline for bars, restaurants, and pubs to stay open till 1 am from the previous 11 pm. The move has been welcomed by restaurants and bars across the city.
- Terence Prasad from Uru Brewpark said the previous 11 pm deadline put a lot of pressure on staff as final orders come in at 10 pm. Now, the 1 am deadline will ensure the orders are spread out.
- Prathik Shetty, the founder of The Reservoire, said the later deadline is perfect for people who want to grab a late dinner. He also said the extension for bars could be 2 am.
Not everyone’s happy: Residents of commercial areas like Indiranagar aren’t thrilled since there have already been multiple complaints in the past from people. Since the rule also applies to other businesses under the BBMP, some may be forced to stay open longer, increasing their cost of operations.
🚇 Metro ridership record
The Namma Metro set a ridership record on August 6 with over 8.6 lakh passengers.
What’s it about? The Bengaluru Metro set a ridership record on August 6 with over 8.65 lakh passengers. The Namma Metro currently operates for 73 km. The increase in ridership is attributed to people returning to offices, especially IT companies.
- The highest ridership was on the Purple Line, from Challaghatta in West Bengaluru to Kadugodi with 4.06 lakh. The Green Line from Nagasandra to Silk Institute had 2.61 lakh.
- The previous highest ridership was on August 15, 2022, with 8.25 lakh passengers. That was mainly due to a Congress rally at the National College Grounds in Basavanagudi and the Lalbagh flower show.
Is it enough? The Standing Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs has previously highlighted the poor ridership of the metro. Its Actual Average Daily Ridership (AADR) was only 0.9 lakh in 2020-21 compared to the Average Daily Ridership required for break-even of 18.5 lakh.
🚮 Penalty for garbage pile-up
The BBMP will collect penalties from owners of vacant plots where garbage has piled up.
What’s it about? The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) issued an order under the 2016 Solid Waste Management Rules and the 2020 BBMP Act to collect penalties and recover the cost of disposing of the waste along with property tax.
- The BBMP’s zonal officers are tasked with identifying plots and public spaces used as dumping sites. Property owners will get a notice with a 7-day deadline to clear the waste from their sites.
- The penalty and removal costs will be recorded in the property tax books and be paid along with the property tax. Applicable interest will be imposed if the payment isn’t on time.
Keeping it clean: The Chief Commissioner said this initiative was to maintain cleanliness and prevent health hazards. He urged the public to cooperate and ensure vacant properties are free of waste.
✨ Things to do…
Here are some fun and interesting things to do in the city over the weekend!
- For an evening of laughs, catch Anthony Jeselnik: Bones and All live this Saturday.
- Celebrate BLACKPINK at this unique 8th-anniversary event this Sunday.
- Experience the grunge world with a live performance by Rock Tooth this Saturday.
- Foodies can experience food trails with The Frazer Town Street Food Trail this Saturday.
- Experience varied symphonies at the Classical Collage this Sunday.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll Results:
- I regularly use quick commerce apps: 53.3% 🏆
- I don’t regularly use quick commerce apps: 46.7%
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What’s your go-to comfort food?
Santhosh: “Uppittu and Idly/sambar any day anytime.”
That’s it for today. Have a great weekend!